Brad Pitt's Holy Cross Project Under Construction

And it looks very cool and interesting. Architects Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen appear to have pulled off a good looking, green and affordable house. "While many of the smart design solutions will be invisible when the home is completed, the green materials we are showing today save homeowners money on their utility bills, improve the health of the residents -- by protecting against mold and poor indoor air quality -- and reduce environmental impact," said Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Global Green USA. "If 50,000 homes were rebuilt to just half the standards used in this home, residents would save up to $56 million and reduce global warming pollution by 550,000 tons each year."Try the interactive tour of the house at Yahoo Green

Preston at Jetson Green summarizes the features: "The goals of the project are to achieve LEED Platinum certification (LEED-H for the single family homes and LEED-NC for the other buildings), net zero energy, and carbon neutral building. By using solar panels, high performance building design, HVAC systems, energy and resource monitoring systems, and energy efficient appliances, the buildings in the Holy Cross Project will use at least 75% less energy than typical buildings. In addition, Global Green is also exploring the use of river turbines in the adjacent Mississipi River."

Global Green also notes:

Displays of green products were arranged by five basic categories including: water conservation, energy conservation, natural resource conservation, indoor air quality and durability. Some of the eco-friendly features visible on the home tour include:

Solar Energy - Evergreen SolarÂ® ES-190 solar panels will be installed on every roof of the project. When completed, the solar panels will cover nearly 100% of the electricity needs of the house, creating a 'net zero energy home.

FSC Wood and BluwoodÂ® - The framing wood is entirely Forest Stewardship Council certified, and is 'blue' because of the use of a proprietary 'Bluwood' nontoxic borate treatment that protects against mold, fungus and reduces the need to use toxic pesticides to frequently spray homes for termites.

Soy-Based Foam Insulation - This green product is made locally in New Orleans and is an agricultural-based product that requires fewer natural resources to manufacture. Spray Foam insulators are sprayed into wall spaces, expanding to fill every inch, preventing air leaks and increasing efficiency.

Wheat Board - Agricultural Fiber Board (particle board) is comparable to plywood and is used in millwork, furniture and flooring. Wheat board is an agricultural by-product otherwise sent to a landfill or incinerator, and is glued with toxic-free resins."We believe the Holy Cross project will serve as a model for how entire neighborhoods can be reshaped and strengthened through smart, green community design. The Home Depot Foundation is committed to the families of the Lower 9th Ward and this community for the long term," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation, the lead funding partner for the project.::Global Green via ::Jetson Green

And it looks very cool and interesting. Architects Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen appear to have pulled off a good looking, green and affordable house. "While many of the smart design solutions will be invisible when the home is completed, the